5. OK A+ has become the “go-to” network for numerous efforts and entities ready to work on educational issues with like-minded individuals pre-disposed to think differently about their roles in preparing our students for life in a society we can only imagine. Dynamic Network
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7. National Partnership Mount Vernon is providing Oklahoma educators with access to Mount Vernon’s existing and new educational programs through the use of the teacher ambassador program.
11. Eight A+ Essentials A+ Essentials™: A Set of Commitments Originally created by principals, teachers, and fellows of North Carolina A+ Schools Arts In A+ Schools the arts are: * taught daily *inclusive of drama, dance, music, visual art and writing *integrated *valued as essential to learning *included in planning *practiced *a part of personal experience Curriculum In A+ Schools curriculum is addressed through the use of: *mapping that reflects alignment *thematic webbing *development of essential questions *creation and use of interdisciplinary thematic units *cross-curricular integration Experiential Learning In A+ Schools experiential learning: *is grounded in arts-based instruction *is a creative process *acknowledges entry points *includes differentiated instruction *provides multi-faceted assessment opportunities Multiple Intelligences In A+ Schools multiple learning pathways are: *used within planning & assessment *understood by students and parents *studied, and new research is explored by teachers *creating balanced learning opportunities Enriched Assessment In A+ Schools enriched assessment: *is on-going *is designed for learning *is used as documentation *is a reflective practice *helps meet school system requirements *is used to self -assess by teachers and students Collaboration In A+ Schools collaboration: *is intentional *occurs within & outside of school *occurs during planning time: classroom teachers with arts teachers *occurs with teachers, students, families, the community, & local businesses *includes broad-based leadership Infrastructure In A+ Schools infrastructure supports the philosophy by: *addressing logistics such as schedules that support planning time *providing appropriate space for the arts *continually developing faculty commitment * creating a shared vision *providing related professional development *continual team building Climate In A+ Schools climate improves because: *teachers can manage the arts in their classrooms *stress is reduced *teachers are treated as professionals *morale improves *excitement about the program grows *A+ whole school reform is invigorating
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19. People learn by actively constructing new knowledge, rather than having information "poured" into their heads. They learn with particular effectiveness when they are engaged in constructing personally meaningful artifacts this is known as “hard fun.” –Seymour Papert Hard Fun A+ Schools’ research team confirms!
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21. A+ Fellows are practicing teachers, artists, and specialists who spend a year in a guided-training model before they can become official, A+ Fellows. How does Professional Development Occur? A+ Fellows
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Notas del editor
School has been organized around the dissemination of information: You have classrooms, and you give information to kids. But I think people have known for a long time that active learning is better. David Cavallo , PhD, MIT, Co-Director MIT’s Future of Learning Group Dawn